This is a 1906 DWM (Deutsche
Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) Altered Imperial Navy. This
piece is a 6
inch (150mm) barreled 9mm Parabellum with the Navy adjustable rear sight
and matching Navy magazine. The DWM
monogram markings appear on the 1st toggle link and the extractor is
marked 'Geladen' (Loaded). This example has
all matching serial numbers.
The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and when exposed (safety down)
means safe.
The unit markings UA is
Unterseeboot Abteilung or Submarine Detachment. (1013)

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display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix
Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.

The German Navy Imperial Flag

The German Imperial Submariners Badge.

This was a service award for going on a mission in the submarine.

The badge was gold in color.

In WWI Germany
deployed a large U-boat force against the western powers. In
World War One the Germany Navy had a very large surface
(battleships, destroyers, cruisers) fleet while in WWII the U-boats
had to shoulder the fight pretty much alone. During 1914-1918
the Imperial Navy deployed 375 U-Boats (Unterseeboot). Of these 274
sunk 6,596 allied ships

Crew UC67

The frame has the
stock lug and the thumb safety.
The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen". The barrel
is numbered and proofed to the weapon. The gun has all matching
serial numbers and the magazine is matching.

This Navy is
the classic; complete with matching magazine. This model has a hold open latch and stock lug.
There is the two-position (100-200m) sight on the rear toggle link and the
last two digits of the serial number appear. This is a
collector grade gun. This model
Navy was believed to be produced in less than 8,000 quantity. There
is an "a" letter suffix versions on this 1906 model.

The front site is dovetailed adjustable with the
then
standard sight blade.
Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style.
This Luger
has all matching numbers. The barrel is numbered and scored and matches
the frame.

Submarine warfare in World
War I was partly a fight between German U-Boats and Atlantic
supply convoys bound for Great Britain. British and Allied
submarines conducted wide spread operations in the Baltic,
North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas. Only a
few actions occurred outside of the wider European-Atlantic
theatre. German submarine attacks on allied merchant ships
gave a direct cause for Americans to enter the war in April
1917.

All participants
were supposed to abide by the Hague Conventions but this was found
to be impracticable for submarines. Initially German submarines did
attempt to comply with the Prize Rules but then went to unrestricted
submarine warfare. American diplomatic pressure forced the Germans to
stop this for a while but in January 1917 declared a War Zone around the
British Isles and sank up to a quarter of shipping entering it, until
escorted convoys were introduced. The sinking of the Pathfinder
was the first combat victory of a modern submarine, and the exploits of
U-9, which sank three British cruisers in under an hour, establishing
the submarine as an important new component of naval warfare.

Usually the Unit
Markings for the Navy Luger is WW (Werft Wilhemshaven), WF (Werft
Kiel) or I, II , III MD for the TD (Torpedo Division).
This is the first time in 35 years that we have seen a U.A. (Unterseeboot Abteilung)
for a submarine detachment. If this Luger was assigned to
a submarine or just one of the flotillas we will never know.
But this is truly a very rare piece to have survived in minty
condition with a unit marking for the Kaiserliche Marine.

Serial number placement is in the civilian ("hidden") style.
The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the
bottom of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the
barrel, the side plate, the left side of the receiver, and
under the first toggle.
The magazine is matching with the Marinen Crown Proof & the matching serial number.

Right the Marinen
Proof and matching serial number of the magazine and barrel and receiver
proof of the same number. See Kenyon, Lugers at Random,
Page 150

This Luger variation is
considered a 1st Issue "Altered" version because of the milling out of the
original thumb safety and changing from safe up to safe down. This
was because when the original Navy contract was let the 1904 versions with
one curled knob and one toggle with the lock was the weapon tested. The
contract was slow being delivered and by the time more weapons were
ordered the 1908 model had appeared with the thumb safety down. The
German Navy, in an effort to prevent confusion in 1912 they ordered that all
their Lugers be "altered" to match the current issue. This produced
the variations that Navy collectors covet today.

The inside of the gun
shows very good care for a 100+ year old gun. The condition of the gun is
very good and barrel is well defined. Here you can see the mechanism
of the grip safety and the serial number it has. There is a wide flanged rear main axel
pin. You can see where the thumb safety was milled and switched.

This Luger
is Sold and is offered for Historical Purposes only for your knowledge
and enjoyment.

These Parabellums are offered under the
Archives section for you to enjoy and study the characteristics from
Lugers we have sold in the past. We hope you enjoy this
presentation and respect our rights of Copyright by not reproducing the
the pictures without written consent. Thank you for looking.
Questions to
josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com